257 



and the firfl cofl: of the primum great, the rifque of loffes, from the 

 failure of fpeculations will be proportionably great ; on which account, 

 the filk manufadijure does not feem well adapted to the means of a 

 country, which poffefTes but fmall capital. The reafon, why countries 

 in that predicament, are at all induced to engage in it, is, that many 

 of its branches, as the manufaftures of ftockings, lace, ribbands, re- 

 quires but little capital, to commence them, in a fmall way, though 

 the country may require great capital, to carry on the manufacture, at 

 large, or colleftively, with advantage ; the apparatus for the manu- 

 fafture of the branches in queftion, being cheap, and eafily to be pro- 

 cured.* 



This is a manufafture, which, perhaps, we can the leaft of any ex- 

 peft to carry on, to a great extent, fo as to make its fabricks an 

 objeft of export, or even to fupply our own home confumption ; in oppofition 

 to the rivalfliip of England ; and that rivalfhip we mud be fure to 

 encounter. In this manufacture, in addition to fuperior fkill, fuperior ca- 

 pita], and all the advantages, that thefe, aided by a jealous policy, 

 can beftow, Britain poflefles one circumftance of fuperiority, which muft 

 exclude all competition : the feat of government is there, the wealth of 

 the Briti/h dominions returns to London, as to the heart, the feat of 

 life, and from thence emanates all courtly ftate, all luxury in drefs, and 

 furniture, all imperial fptendor ! By the pofleflion of fuperior capital, 

 Britain will have the priinwn of this manufacture, the firft coft of which 

 is great, on cheaper terms, and of better quality, for the wealthiefl 

 dealer always has the choice of the market, and is able to take ad- 

 vantage of particular times and contingencies ; and being in pofieffion 

 of the firfl; debut of fafhion, in ^ manufacture, where falhion bears 

 fovereign fway, her fabricks will always take the lead in the Irijh mar- 



VoJL. IX. ( K k ; ket, 



* The fubje.fls of the Britj/h empire will be laid, in future, under great difficulties, in 

 procuring the primum of the filk manufaflure, by the late extenfions of French do- 

 minion and influence. 



